Yesterday I shared 5 ingredients of composition that I consider when setting up a shot. Today I’d like to talk about 5 more.

Framing

Frame-Your-Images
Image by foreversouls

Most of us use ‘frames’ to display our images when we hang them on walls for viewing - however ‘framing’ can be used within the composition of a shot to help you highlight your main point of interest in the image and and/or to put it in context to give the image ‘depth’.

Learn how to use framing as an element of composition.


Perspective

Perspective
Image by fensterbme

The perspective that a shot is taken from is another element that can have a big impact upon an image.

Shooting from up high and looking down on a subject or shooting from below looking up on the same subject drastically impact not only the ‘look’ of the image, emphasizing different points of interest, angles, textures, shapes etc - but it also impacts the ’story’ of an image.

Read more on photographing people from different angles.

Space

Space
Image by .robbie

There can be a fine line between filling your frame with your subject (and creating a nice sense of intimacy and connection) and also giving your subject space to breath.

Either technique can be effective - so experiment with moving in close and personal and moving out to capture a subject in its context.

Sometimes it is what you leave out of an image that makes it special

Balance

Balance
Image by *L*u*z*a*

The positioning with elements in a frame can leave an image feeling balanced or unbalanced.

Too many points of interest in one section of your image can leave it feeling too ‘heavy’ or complicated in that section of the shot and other parts feeling ‘empty’.

Read more about balance in photography.

Color

Color
Image by baboon

The colors in an image and how they are arranged can make or break a shot.

Bright colors can add vibrancy, energy and interest - however in the wrong position they can also distract viewers of an image away from focal points.

Colors also greatly impact ‘mood’. Blues and Greens can have a calming soothing impact, Reds and Yellows can convey vibrancy ad energy etc.

What have I missed?

Between yesterday’s post on composition elements in photography and today’s I’ve covered just 10 things that photographers consider when composing a photo. What would you add?

Read more from our Composition Tips Category